Section 296-45-17505. Lockout/tagout (hazardous control) program.

(1) The employer shall establish a program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training, and periodic inspections to ensure that, before any employee performs any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, start up, or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment is isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative.

(2) The employer's energy control program under this section shall meet the following requirements:

(a) If an energy isolating device is not capable of being locked out, the employer's program shall use a tagout system.

(b) If an energy isolating device is capable of being locked out, the employer's program shall use lockout, unless the employer can demonstrate that the use of a tagout system will provide full employee protection as follows:

(i) When a tagout device is used on an energy isolating device which is capable of being locked out, the tagout device shall be attached at the same location that the lockout device would have been attached, and the employer shall demonstrate that the tagout program will provide a level of safety equivalent to that obtained by the use of a lockout program.

(ii) In demonstrating that a level of safety is achieved in the tagout program equivalent to the level of safety obtained by the use of a lockout program, the employer shall demonstrate full compliance with all tagout-related provisions of this standard together with such additional elements as are necessary to provide the equivalent safety available from the use of a lockout device. Additional means to be considered as part of the demonstration of full employee protection shall include the implementation of additional safety measures such as the removal of an isolating circuit element, blocking of a controlling switch, opening of an extra disconnecting device, or the removal of a valve handle to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent energizing.

(3) Whenever replacement or major repair, renovation, or modification of a machine or equipment is performed, and whenever new machines or equipment are installed, energy isolating devices for such machines or equipment shall be designed to accept a lockout device.

(4) Procedures shall be developed, documented, and used for the control of potentially hazardous energy covered by this section.

(5) The procedure shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, responsibility, authorization, rules, and techniques to be applied to the control of hazardous energy, and the measures to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) A specific statement of the intended use of this procedure;

(b) Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy;

(c) Specific procedural steps for the placement, removal, and transfer of lockout devices or tagout devices and the responsibility for them; and

(d) Specific requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy control measures.

(6) The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the provisions of this section are being followed.

(a) The periodic inspection shall be performed by an authorized/designated employee who is not using the energy control procedure being inspected.

(b) The periodic inspection shall be designed to identify and correct any deviations or inadequacies.

(c) If lockout is used for energy control, the periodic inspection shall include a review, between the inspector and each authorized/designated employee, of that employee's responsibilities under the energy control procedure being inspected.

(d) Where tagout is used for energy control, the periodic inspection shall include a review, between the inspector and each authorized/designated and affected employee, of that employee's responsibilities under the energy control procedure being inspected, and the elements set forth in this section.

(e) The employer shall certify that the inspections required by this section have been accomplished. The certification shall identify the machine or equipment on which the energy control procedure was being used, the date of the inspection, the employees included in the inspection, and the person performing the inspection.

Note:	If normal work schedule and operation records demonstrate adequate inspection activity and contain the required information, no additional certification is required.

(7) The employer shall provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of energy controls are acquired by employees. The training shall include the following:

(a) Each authorized/designated employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of energy available in the workplace, and in the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.

(b) Each affected employee shall be instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure.

(c) All other employees whose work operations are or may be in an area where energy control procedures may be used shall be instructed about the procedures and about the prohibition relating to attempts to restart or reenergize machines or equipment that are locked out or tagged out.

(8) When tagout systems are used, employees shall also be trained in the following limitations of tags:

(a) Tags are essentially warning devices affixed to energy isolating devices and do not provide the physical restraint on those devices that is provided by a lock.

(b) When a tag is attached to an energy isolating means, it is not to be removed without authorization of the authorized/designated person responsible for it, and it is never to be bypassed, ignored, or otherwise defeated.

(c) Tags must be legible and understandable by all authorized/designated employees, affected employees, and all other employees whose work operations are or may be in the area, in order to be effective.

(d) Tags and their means of attachment must be made of materials which will withstand the environmental conditions encountered in the workplace.

(e) Tags may evoke a false sense of security, and their meaning needs to be understood as part of the overall energy control program.

(f) Tags must be securely attached to energy isolating devices so that they cannot be inadvertently or accidentally detached during use.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 16-10-082, § 296-45-17505, filed 5/3/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. WSR 98-07-009, § 296-45-17505, filed 3/6/98, effective 5/6/98.]

RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 16-10-082, § 296-45-17505, filed 5/3/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. WSR 98-07-009, § 296-45-17505, filed 3/6/98, effective 5/6/98.